Chinese women ease past group test
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-08-28 15:52

World number two Niu Jianfeng outclassed the women's singles Olympic bronze medalist Kim Kyung Ah in straight sets on Saturday to lead the Chinese squad past their first test in women's team event of the Asian table tennis championships against South Korea.

The hosts Korean, who were drawn into Group A along with top-seeded Chinese since they had finished eighth in the Bangkok Asian tourney in 2003, had two defensive players, Kim Kyung Ah and Kim Bok Rae, in their line-up facing the dominant force in world table tennis in Saturday's group stage showdown.

Kim Kyung Ah, the top female paddler of South Korea who lost to world number one Zhang Yining in last August's Olympic semi-finals of women's singles table tennis in Athens, had no answer when playing China's Niu, beaten 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 in just fifteen minutes.

Her compatriot Lee Eun Hee continued the Korean's declining trend, losing 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 to Guo Yan, ranked 6th in the world, and sent the Korean women to two matches down.

Kim Bok Rae could have pulled back one game for the host squad as the defensive player was given an upper hand in her match against Chinese teenager Guo Yue.

Guo Yue, who claimed her first career title last December at the ITTF ProTour Final in Beijing, double-faulted to give up the lead at 8-9 before the younger Kim chopped to win the first set 11-9.

The 17-year-old, however, quickly found back her rhythm, makingshort work of the second set with remarkable 11-3 after opening the set with six points in a row.

Kim Bok Rae tried to upset the Chinese sensation with fierce and slapping attacks, but Guo Yue was not affected in charging the game, wrapping up the last two set 11-7, 11-5 in ease.

In a one-sided morning matchup, Chinese women squad smashed Thailand 3-0 to open their campaign of the biyear tournament at the Pacific island.

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